Over the Christmas holidays I had a brief look through some photographs I took when I was in South America a couple of years ago and came across this delightful picture of a lady. She lived in a small village high up in the Andes mountains at nearly 5000 metres, and had lived there all of her life. It was a lovely place albeit for someone who lives near sea level both the views and the altitude did take my breath away in spite of being in the country for many weeks.
She was very content doing her knitting for her grand and great grand children, although sadly as my language was not too good it was difficult to converse. She was 105 years old, so had clearly found a great recipe for long life. I am sure if I had manage to ask she would have provided some thoughts on the matter, sadly through a limited vocabulary of the dialect spoken in the mountains my question remained unasked.
Now as we start a new year I am sure there have been some new year resolutions made, and I guess by the time I am writing this article some will already have fallen by the wayside. But at the start of a new year a new dawn breaks….new horizons are created, new ideals considered. And then life can take over…. if we are serious about the year ahead though, I am sure that many new insights are made, insights discovered, and perhaps there is even a deeper discovery. The one thing I do see is the unrest of people chasing the end of the rainbow, sadly not knowing where that rainbow reaches. This lady, on a sunny afternoon seemed at peace with her world, busy being creative and productive. At these heights the winters are severe, so warm clothing is a necessity – electricity only came to the village 2 years before.
I sometimes bounce through the new year with new resolutions made, plans in place to make these happen and a personal commitment to make a difference in the new year. Interestingly this year has been a little different – not by design, just because for some unknown reason I felt differently. Now don’t get me wrong I have ambition and a real enthusiasm to make things happen. I think it is because here in the UK 2012 was a year of achievement – the Queen’s Diamond jubilee, the Olympics, the Paralympics and more. A fantastic year of so much happening, so I feel that I need to make sure that 2013 does not become a mere shaddow of last year. Also, sometimes we rush and complete our goals for the new year when waiting means we are more likely to get them really focussed. And so it has been for me – I have mentioned in earlier articles about some of the things I achieved in the past year. A tough act to follow and wonderful things to build upon.
Last week I was on the train to London which gave me some excellent uninterrupted time, so my plans are coming together – Insights Deeper Discovery is a part of the plan, following on from my successes last year…..and so much more.
Now that the festivities have become a faded memory if you have not made robust plans for 2013 it is the perfect time to make those plans. So what are you waiting for? If you did make new year resolutions how are they going? If you need some help to make a difference in your life do let me know….I may just be able to help.
A lady I know in Worcester still works 5 days a week and I think she is 93, she has a way to go to match the lady in the mountains. I am keen to be healthy and busy when I am 105 – there is so much to do, what about you?
My best wishes,
Peter
